“What are you doing?” Betsy snapped, her eyes stretched wide in disbelief. She looked like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water over her. Ben, still kneeling beside her, stared up like a loyal puppy who had no idea he was in danger.

“Marry me,” he said.

“Oh my God! It’s a proposal,” Diana announced loudly, sounding far too entertained.

Everyone at the table froze. Forks paused mid-air. Drinks hovered halfway to lips.

No one blinked. No one breathed.

Isla’s mouth hung open like someone unplugged her thoughts.

Sofie clapped both hands over her mouth, eyes sparkling with disbelief.

Betty and Maya exchanged delighted smiles-this was better than a movie.

Carl and Luke stared like Ben had just turned into a superhero… or an idiot. It was still unclear to them.

And Peter… Well, Peter wore his usual unreadable expression, but there was definitely amusement hiding at the corner of his mouth-even if he pretended otherwise.

“What is he doing?” Peter muttered to himself.

If looks could kill, Betsy’s glare would have dragged Ben to the graveyard right beside Alfred.

“I really mean it,” Ben pushed on, completely ignoring everyone’s stars. “Marry me, Betsy, and I promise to be good to you.”

She didn’t answer. She simply stared at him like he had crossed every line ever drawn in history.

“Betsy,” Charles cut in, stroking his chin like a wise old judge, “a man is on his knees asking you to marry him. In front of everyone here. That is serious. You need to give him an answer, dear.”

Betsy’s face turned cold-so cold she could have frozen the barbecue grill.

“I can’t,” she breathed out at last. “I can’t marry you.”

Silence fell again.

“Aunt Isla, can I go play now?” Little Jeff asked loudly, clearly unimpressed with adult drama.

Isla blinked, then smiled and brushed a hand through his hair. She bent and kissed his nose.

“Yes, you can. But be careful.”

The boy ran off happily, relieved to escape.

Ben leaned forward slightly, still kneeling. “Why can’t you marry me? You and I both know you love me.”

“What makes you think that, Ben? Don’t be delusional. I don’t love you. And stop this drama.” She barked the words like a commander.

Ben inhaled deeply and then dropped the bomb.

“What about the pregnancy?”

Gasps shot through the garden like fireworks.

“Betsy is pregnant?” Isla blurted, stunned.

“Okay, this is very serious,” Diana said, shaking her head dramatically.

Gabriel lifted a hand, “are you guys fuc–” then stopped himself mid-sentence when he remembered Diana

and Charles were present.

“What I mean is… I know you two have been seeing each other and- “I

“We were just sleeping together,” Betsy said bluntly, as if she were announcing the weather.

“Since when?” Isla demanded, still dazed.

“Since the very first day they met at the club,” Peter answered casually while sipping his drink.

“What? That’s unbelievable!” Isla exclaimed.

Ben tried again. “Look, Betsy. I may seem like a playboy to you, but I mean what I said. I want to marry you. And I want to take care of our baby.”

“So you want to marry me because of the baby? Not because you love me?” she asked.

Silence. Again.

Ben stood up slowly. “Don’t say that. You know I care about you-

>>

“Care,” she corrected sharply. “Caring about someone is not enough to get married, Ben. And I will not marry a man just because he cares. And please don’t ruin this happy moment for Sofie and Peter. We have a wedding in two days.”

–

“And you think Peter and Sofie are in love? Wake up,” Ben fired back. “Love comes gradually. I’m sure you and I will find ours one day. Just like Gabriel did.”

Gabriel shot him a warning glare that could melt steel.

Peter gave him a second glare that could finish the melting process.

Isla still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had suspected chemistry between her friend and Ben, yes— but pregnancy?

She tried to breathe normally.

Then she lifted one hand like a schoolteacher.

“Okay, if I may come in-can you two sort this out privately? We have a wedding in two days, and that should be our focus.”

She looked at them like a mother who loved her children but also wanted to smack them.

“As much as I feel like murdering both of you right now,” she continued sweetly, “I will be merciful-only because I love you both. Go and sort things out.”

She smiled the smile of a woman holding chaos together with elegance.

Because now… was the time to celebrate Peter and Sofie.

And not let Ben and Betsy’s baby bomb steal the spotlight.

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Florence

Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.